GCHQ Government Communications Headquarters : becomes a Stonewall Top 100 LGBT employer

News article - 19 Jan 2017

GCHQ has been named as one of Stonewall's Top 100 LGBT employers in the UK.

We're proud to announce that we have risen to 75th in the annual Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, an increase of 37 places since 2016.

This year's results mean that all three UK intelligence and security agencies are in the Top 100, with GCHQ's partner agencies MI5 at 5th and SIS at 20th.

Stonewall's Workplace Equality Index is an annual audit of workplace culture for lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff. Over the past year we have demonstrated our commitment to helping all our staff fulfil their potential, through initiatives such as LGBT awareness workshops, increased engagement from senior leadership and sharing best practice externally. Our Bude site lit up its buildings to mark IDAHOBiT Day and our Director Robert Hannigan gave a groundbreaking address at the Stonewall Workplace Conference.

Ben, Chair of the GCHQ Pride Network, welcomed the news:

'I am very proud of the efforts of everyone involved, from the Diversity Champions, Diversity Officers and Pride team who live this daily; to our members, partners and those across all our sites engaging on all manner of LGBT+ work, right through to every member of our staff that's committed to making GCHQ an inclusive and welcoming place to work.'

Duncan Bradshaw, Director of Membership Programmes, Stonewall, said:

'GCHQ and all those who have made this year's Top 100 Employers list have done a fantastic job, and really do put equality and inclusion at the forefront of their work. We were thrilled to have 439 submissions for this year's Index, one of the most competitive yet, and I would like to thank each and every organisation that took part. With your continued efforts and hard work, we will continue to work toward a world where all lesbian, gay, bi and trans staff are welcomed and accepted without exception in their workplaces.'